IMUA KAMEHAMEHA

The history of native Hawaiians protesting is linked to the Hawaiian sovereignty movement.  This local melange of locals is unhappy about a lack of opportunity and the need for self-determination, going back to the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom in 1893.

They are sincere in their opposition to almost anything that misrepresents and insults their culture, including Gods and especially territory.  I was involved way back in the 1970's when I was a reservoir engineer drilling for geothermal energy in Puna.  With rain forest freaks, marijuana growers and environmentalist, they  (saying goddess Pele was being desecrated) prevailed with a ruling from Judge David Ezra.  In a way, they probably did companies a favor, for all Hawaii geothermal hotspots are over active volcanoes.

Today, there are three active protests:  construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope on Mauna Kea as an insult to sacredness, Sherwood Forest in Waimanalo and the latest bank of windmills in Kahuku.  However, surveys taken by the Star-Advertiser all show that the great majority of those in Hawaii don't support their opposition, mostly because all these projects went through the formal legal process and make sense for the future of the state.

The TMT on Mauna Kea poll results have previously been summarized here.  Two latest results:

• What do you think about the recent spread of "kapu aloha" demonstrations to block projects in Kahuku and at Sherwood Forest in Waimanalo? (16October2019)
• 80%  They're breaking the law and should be stopped
• 17%  They're legitimate forms of protest
•   3%  Not sure
• Do you think the Thirty Meter Telescope will be built on Mauna Kea? (13October 2019)

• 76%  Yes, eventually
• 16%  No, the opposition is too strong
•   8%  Not sure

I look upon all the above and, while I respect the right of protesters to express their point of view, I'm thinking, everything they're doing is PREVENTING something, or RETROGRESSING to the PAST.  Why don't they promote for PROGRESS?  Why only undercut?  All that effort for what?  Where does it really get you?  Especially when the general populace by a wide margin deplore your efforts.

My preliminary analysis of these recent protests is that those Hawaiian immersion schools focused on teaching their students to protest something happening...not work in partnership with all sectors of the community to accomplish something good for future.  The Department of Education should review what is really happening in those charter school efforts.

IMUA in Hawaiian means to move forward or move ahead toward a goal.  The term was made famous by King Kamehameha I, the one who unified the Hawaiian islands.  Imua Kamehameha is one of my very favorite songs and the fight song of Kamehameha Schools.

One hopes that amidst these troubled times a forward-thinking modern-day Kamehameha can rise and lead Hawaiians and Hawaii to a progressive future.  Kanaloa is the Hawaiian God of the Deep Ocean.

A driving force for progress is required for the Blue Revolution.  Help!

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All signs point to Typhoon Bualoi, now a Category 3, to weaken and ease past the east side of Japan, affecting only scattered islands like Ogasawara and Iwo Jima.  

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